H’wick residents working to improve town

Residents of Howardwick are seeing signs of progress as community members work to address issues of safety and quality of life in the lakeside city.

Civic leaders have made strides in the last couple of months to improve fire protection capability, add more amenities to the City Park, and reduce crime.

After a legal issue shut down the Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department, the city’s official department – the City of Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department – has been working to get back up and running and attained that goal this month. The department is now ready to accept and respond to calls.

Fire Chief Brice Hawley says the CHVFD now has five members, including its secretary, with two more applications pending. The department held a “meet and greet” last month that was attended by about 100 people, Hawley said. That event raised about $1,900 in donations for the department even though it wasn’t meant to be a fundraiser.

The CHVFD is also working to improve its members’ training and will have members getting wildfire training in November.

On the north edge of the city, the new District Nine Volunteer Fire Department continues to organize with the goal of providing fire protection to the area north of Howardwick to Interstate 40 and east to Alanreed. Members of that department say they have received donations of gear and vehicles and are working toward raising money for a building to house their equipment.

The D9VFD, which will not operate inside the city, held a fundraiser dinner last month that was attended by more than 100 people and did very well.

Both fire departments are supported by auxiliary organizations – the Fire Flies for the CHVFD and the Fire Bees for the D9VFD.

Following some August break-ins in the community, Alderman Jerry Mulanax and City Secretary Sandra Childress first discussed the idea of forming a neighborhood watch organization. Mulanax then put the word out to some citizens via social media.

“They made it loud and clear they are not satisfied with the criminal element believing Howardwick is a place they can fly under the radar for their illegal deeds, or a place where squatters can take up residence unchallenged,” Mulanax said.

Without the involvement of the city, Mulanax now serves as the coordinator of a neighborhood watch group that has 36 participants and seven block captains, whose purpose is not just to reduce criminal activity.

“We intend to use this Neighborhood Watch Program to address those issues, help to heal old wounds to bring the city back together, and eventually use our combined force to make Howardwick the kind of City we all want to live in and a place we can be proud of by not only cleaning up these issues but also expanding our roles to include conducting civic improvement initiatives,” Mulanax said.
Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn has met with the group, and a Cpl. Jeb Hilton of the

Amarillo Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit met with the group last week. Blackburn offered advice and support for the group, and Hilton also provided training for what a neighborhood watch group should and should not do.

Mulanax says any Howardwick resident interested in helping as a block captain or a watcher can sign up at City Hall.

The city itself is also working to address concerns of its citizens in terms of zoning. A public hearing was held October 15 where residents discussed wanting to allow or expand areas of town where tiny homes, RVs, and mobile homes can be located, rethink the square footage requirements for homes in the city, update definitions of different types housing, restrict livestock in the city, and address issues regarding septic systems.

Childress says the citizens’ input will be taken into consideration for a re-writing of Chapter 12 of the city’s Code of Ordinances. City Hall hopes to have that work done by December.

The city also has a new playground to brag about at City Park, purchased by Mayor Tony Clemishire. The new equipment occupies a footprint of about 500 square feet, and is already getting used by local kids.